What Will a 3000 Watt Inverter Generator Run?

If you’re shopping for an inverter generator, it’s important to choose the right one for your energy needs. If you choose one that’s too small, you won’t be able to run all your devices, and you could overload your generator and damage it. 

Choosing one that’s too large will cost more money than you need to spend.  Determining what size is right for you depends entirely on what you want to run with it.

For instance, a 3000W generator will run almost any household appliance except dryers and large central air conditioners. It will, however, run your fridge, freezer, TV, microwave, and just about anything else you may have. 

Let’s examine this a little further.

Inverter Generator: Starting & Running Watts

When shopping for a generator, it’s critical to understand some terminology. The first thing to understand is that an inverter is a device that converts DC electricity into AC electricity, which is the form of energy that most household and shop appliances need to run. It’s the type of energy that comes out of your wall plugs. 

So, what’s an inverter generator? It’s a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional generators because they automatically throttle up and down based on the needed power rather than constantly running at full power. It also differs because the built-in inverter converts the AC electricity produced by the engine into DC, then back into AC. That process cleans up the energy, removing voltage spikes that could otherwise damage sensitive electronics. 

These also differ from portable power stations, which are battery storage solutions that can run a wide range of devices. Since they store energy in a battery rather than producing it on the spot, they can be used indoors without worrying about fumes. 

No matter what type of model you’re considering, you must determine your energy needs to decide what capacity you need. To do that, you need to understand the difference between starting and running watts. 

Starting Watts

Starting watts are the brief surge of wattage that motor-driven appliances need for those first few seconds to get them powered up. They’re much higher than what it takes to run continuously, often about twice as much. It’s important to consider this when first starting those appliances to prevent overloading your generator. 

It’s also important to understand that only motor-driven appliances like refrigerators and most power tools require that extra surge to get started, while things like computers or TVs don’t need it.

Most appliances list their energy use in watts, but if you have devices that give their values in volts or amps, you can convert the units as needed. Also, check to see if the number they list is for starting or running when calculating your energy needs.  

Running Watts

Running watts are what your appliances or devices need to run continuously after that initial power surge is over. They’re often half the starting watts of a motor-driven device. Note that devices without motors, like your phone or laptop, only have a running wattage since they don’t have a motor that needs to be started. 

To calculate your running wattage needs, add up all the watts of your appliances and devices that you need to use.

What Can I Run with a 3000 Watt Inverter Generator?

Home Backup

Here’s a list of the running watts and their starting watts in brackets, if applicable, of some basic home appliances you can run on a 3000W generator. As you can see, it’ll run most of the appliances you have in your home.

• Microwave 1000-2000W 
• Coffee Maker 600-1200W
• Toaster 800-1500W
• Fridge 500-750W (2200W)
• Chest Freezer 600W (1200W)
• Washing Machine 1200W (2300W)
• Laptop Computer 20-300W (varies widely with the laptop)
• Speakers 200W
• TV 240-500W
• Space Heater 1500-2000W

Just be aware of that starting wattage – for example, don’t start your washing machine with its 2300W power surge if your 2000W microwave is already running since you’ll overload your generator, if only for a few seconds. Instead, wait until your microwave is finished, then start your washing machine. 

Once started, you can run other things, like a fridge and a 1000W microwave, while your washing machine is on since it only needs 1200W after it’s already started. 

Construction & DIY

Generators are often essential for construction sites and other DIY projects where power may not be hooked up yet. Here’s a list of common power tools you may need to run, with their average running and starting watts in brackets. 

Again, always consider the starting wattage when you power up any motor-driven power tool since that initial surge of power could overload your generator if you already have other things running on it. Once they’re running, you can power multiple tools simultaneously. 

• Angle Grinder 900W (1800W)
• Router 600W (1500W)
• Drill 500-960W (to 1800W)
• Disc Sander 1200W (2200W)
• Circular Saw 1200-1500W (2400-3000W)
• Table Saw 1800W (3600W)
• Commercial Wet/Dry Vacuum 1000W (to 2500W) 
• Water Pump 1000W (to 300W)
• Pain Sprayer 360W (1080W)

Camping & RV

Camping is another great way to use your 3000W generator to travel comfortably. Here’s a list of common camping and RV appliances with the running and starting watts in brackets, if applicable. 

Of course, you can also bring other small household appliances with you, like a blender or crockpot. Just look at their rated wattage. 

• Small RV Air Conditioner 900-1700 (to 2500W)
• Small Portable Space Heater 750-1500W
• Small Microwave 1000W
• RV Refrigerator 40-300W (80-800W)
• Phone Charger 10W
• Laptop Computer 20-300W
• Tablet 10-20W

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

If you’re considering purchasing an inverter generator for your house, calculate your energy needs to buy the right size model. Buying one that’s too small will likely leave you frustrated, and you could damage it if you try to use it to power too many devices simultaneously. 

Also, ensure you understand the difference between running and starting watts and that only motor-driven appliances have starting watts. That’s critical when first starting up motor-driven appliances like fridges, washing machines, or most power tools to prevent generator overload. But, as you have seen, a 3000W inverter generator will power almost all household, shop, and RV appliances without an issue.